Guardian: CDHPs Gain

June 05, 2009 at 08:00 PM

Share & Print

Health plans that incorporate personal health accounts are starting to win a significant amount of market share.

The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America, New York, has included that finding in a summary of results from a recent telephone survey of 1,001 U.S. adults ages 18 and older who live in the continental United States.

About 60% of the consumers reported that that they are still participating in a traditional medical plan, with 37% in a preferred provider organization plan and 23% in a health maintenance organization plan.

About 14% of consumers participate in a high-deductible health plan with either a health savings account or a health reimbursement arrangement. The percentage is noteworthy, considering that HSAs have only been available for little more than 5 years, Guardian says.

The participants in the 45-54 age group were the ones most likely to be enrolled in "consumer-driven health plans," or CDHPs, with HSAs or HRAs.

About 22% of the participants with annual incomes over $75,000 said they have HSAs, Guardian says.

NOT FOR REPRINT